Methods of generating mycelium materials with improved properties

Abstract

Provided herein are compositions of mycelium material, and methods for production thereof. Also provided herein are articles of footwear includes an upper, a lasting board affixed with the upper to define an interior foot-receiving cavity therewith, and an outsole coupled with the upper opposite the lasting board. The upper includes at least a portion of a mycelium material that includes one or more proteins derived from an organism other than mycelium.

1 . A method, comprising:
 a. generating a cultivated mycelium material;   b. contacting the cultivated mycelium material with a solution comprising one or more proteins to produce a composition comprising the cultivated mycelium material and one or more proteins, wherein the one or more proteins are from a species other than a fungal species from which the cultivated mycelium material is generated; and   c. pressing the cultivated mycelium material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting comprises submerging the cultivated mycelium material in the solution. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting comprises contacting the cultivated mycelium material with the solution in a single step. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting comprises contacting the cultivated mycelium material with the solution in one or more steps. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more proteins are from a plant source. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plant source is a pea plant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plant source is a soybean plant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , the solution comprises a dye. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition is colored with the dye to produce a color, and the color of the cultivated mycelium material is substantially uniform on one or more surfaces of the cultivated mycelium material. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the dye is penetrated throughout the interior of the composition. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of: an acid dye, a direct dye, a synthetic dye, a natural dye, and a reactive dye. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution comprises a plasticizer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of oil, glycerin, and fat liquor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition is flexible. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more proteins are crosslinked. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more proteins are crosslinked with transglutaminase. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution comprises an enzyme. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the enzyme comprises transglutaminase. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressing comprises pressing the cultivated mycelium material to a thickness of 0.1 inch to 0.5 inch. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pressing comprises pressing the cultivated mycelium material to a thickness of 0.25 inch. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressing is repeated one or more times. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressing comprises pressing the cultivated mycelium material to a thickness of 0.25 inch. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressing comprises pressing the cultivated mycelium material with a roller. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution comprises tannins. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising incubating the composition. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the incubating comprises incubating the composition at a set temperature for a set amount of time. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the set temperature is 40° C. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising drying the composition. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying a finishing agent to one or more surfaces of the composition. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the finishing agent is selected from the group consisting of: urethane, wax, nitrocellulose, or a plasticizer. 
     
     
         31 . A composition comprising a cultivated mycelium material and one or more proteins, wherein the one or more proteins are from a species other than a fungal species from which the cultivated mycelium material is generated. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the one or more proteins are from a plant source. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 32 , wherein the plant source is a pea plant. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 32 , wherein the plant source is a soybean plant. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the composition comprises a dye. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 35 , wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of: an acid dye, a direct dye, a synthetic dye, a natural dye, and a reactive dye. 
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the composition comprises a plasticizer. 
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of oil, glycerin and fat liquor. 
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein the composition is flexible. 
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the one or more proteins are crosslinked. 
     
     
         41 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the one or more proteins are crosslinked with transglutaminase. 
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the composition comprises an enzyme. 
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 42 , wherein the enzyme comprises transglutaminase. 
     
     
         44 . A composition comprising a cultivated mycelium material colored with a dye to produce a color, and wherein the color of the cultivated mycelium material is substantially uniform on one or more surfaces of the cultivated mycelium material. 
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of: an acid dye, a direct dye, a synthetic dye, a natural dye, and a reactive dye. 
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the composition comprises one or more proteins that are from a species other than a fungal species from which the cultivated mycelium material is generated. 
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the one or more proteins are from a plant source. 
     
     
         48 . The composition of  claim 47 , wherein the plant source is a pea plant. 
     
     
         49 . The composition of  claim 47 , wherein the plant source is a soybean plant. 
     
     
         50 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the dye is penetrated throughout the interior of the composition. 
     
     
         51 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the composition comprises a plasticizer. 
     
     
         52 . The composition of  claim 51 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of oil, glycerin, and fat liquor. 
     
     
         53 . The composition of  claim 51 , wherein the composition is flexible. 
     
     
         54 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the composition comprises tannins. 
     
     
         55 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the composition comprises a finishing agent applied to one or more surfaces of the composition. 
     
     
         56 . The composition of  claim 55 , wherein the finishing agent is selected from the group consisting of: urethane, wax, nitrocellulose, or a plasticizer. 
     
     
         57 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a. an upper;   b. a lasting board affixed with the upper to define an interior foot-receiving cavity therewith;   c. an outsole coupled with the upper opposite the lasting board;   d. wherein the upper includes at least a portion of a mycelium material that includes one or more proteins derived from an organism other than mycelium.   
     
     
         58 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , wherein the upper comprises a plurality of portions of the mycelium material in respective implementations thereof having different physical properties. 
     
     
         59 . The article of footwear of  claim 58 , wherein the different physical properties are selected to correlate with desired characteristics of the corresponding locations of the portions within the upper. 
     
     
         60 . The article of footwear of  claim 59 , wherein one of the portions of the mycelium material includes a vamp, the respective implementation of the mycelium material having higher relative flexibility compared to at least one of the portion. 
     
     
         61 . The article of footwear of  claim 59 , wherein one of the portions of the mycelium material includes a heel counter, the respective implementation of the mycelium material having higher relative rigidity compared to at least one of the portion. 
     
     
         62 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , wherein the mycelium material is at least one of tanned and dyed to resemble leather. 
     
     
         63 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , further including a midsole affixed with the lasting board, the outsole being affixed with the midsole so as to be coupled with the upper. 
     
     
         64 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , wherein the upper comprises a plurality of discrete portions of the mycelium material. 
     
     
         65 . The article of footwear of  claim 64 , wherein the portions are assembled together using at least one of: topstitching, felled stitching, and stitch and turn construction. 
     
     
         66 . The article of footwear of  claim 64 , wherein the portions are assembled together using at least one of: solvent-based adhesive, UV curing adhesive, heat-activated adhesive, and water-based adhesive. 
     
     
         67 . The article of footwear of  claim 64 , wherein at least one of the portions is split to resemble suede leather. 
     
     
         68 . The article of footwear of  claim 64 , wherein at least one of the portions includes an edge thinned by skivving. 
     
     
         69 . The article of footwear of  claim 64 , wherein the portions are assembled together using heat bonding. 
     
     
         70 . The article of footwear of  claim 64 , wherein the upper further includes at least one additional portion of a textile material. 
     
     
         71 . The article of footwear of  claim 64 , wherein the textile material is thermoplastic and is affixed with at least one of the portions of the mycelium material by heat bonding. 
     
     
         72 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , wherein the upper includes interfacing assembled with a portion thereof. 
     
     
         73 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , including perforations along a portion thereof. 
     
     
         74 . The article of footwear of  claim 73 , wherein the perforations vary in at least one of size and relative spacing over an area of the upper. 
     
     
         75 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , wherein the upper is laser etched along a portion thereof. 
     
     
         76 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , wherein the upper includes at least one reinforcing portion injection molded thereon. 
     
     
         77 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , wherein the upper includes at least one 3-D printed element fused therewith. 
     
     
         78 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , wherein at least a portion of the upper includes at least one portion molded in a three dimensional shape. 
     
     
         79 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , wherein the upper is comprised of a single molded piece of the mycelium material. 
     
     
         80 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , wherein the mycelium material includes a plurality of bonded layers of the mycelium material in respective implementations thereof having different physical properties. 
     
     
         81 . The article of footwear of  claim 57 , wherein at least one of the lasting board and the out-sole includes at least a portion of the mycelium material. 
     
     
         82 . An athletic sneaker, comprising:
 a. an upper including at least a portion of a mycelium material that includes one or more proteins derived from an organism other than mycelium;   b. a lasting board affixed with the upper to define an interior foot-receiving cavity therewith;   c. a midsole of a foam material and affixed with the lasting board; and   d. an outsole of a rubber material and affixed with the midsole opposite the lasting board;   e. wherein the mycelium material is at least one of tanned and dyed to resemble leather, and the upper is configured and assembled to resemble athletic footwear of leather.   
     
     
         83 . An athletic sneaker, comprising:
 a. an upper including at least a portion of a mycelium material that includes one or more proteins derived from an organism other than mycelium;   b. a lasting board affixed with the upper to define an interior foot-receiving cavity therewith;   c. a midsole of a foam material and affixed with the lasting board; and   d. an outsole of a rubber material and affixed with the midsole opposite the lasting board;   e. wherein the upper includes at least one portion molded in a three dimensional shape.